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Today Sony Ericsson announced its second XPERIA smartphone, the X2. It features the new Windows Mobile 6.5, an 8.1MP camera, a 3.2 inch sized screen with WVGA resolution and a wide variety of communication possibilities.

Get your very own impression with our extensive hands-on videos and the large live picture gallery.

Here are a few key features of the new XPERIA X2 smartphone:

The keyboard features slightly bigger keys compared to the X1, which makes it what we felt somewhat more comfortable to use, despite the fact that pressing the keys feels less crisp compared to the X1. The new panels (some of them in a 3D look) add a more elegant and modern look to the handset. And although the X2 shares the same processor with the current X1 model, everything runs much smoother and faster on the X2! It seems that Windows Mobile 6.5 as well as the panels underwent some serious performance tuning.

An interesting idea with the new panels is the possibility to have different panels automatically activated depending on the time. For example, you could set the musicplayer panel or the CNN panel to be active from 7 to 8am, and then have the X2 switch to a panel which is optimized for your working day (calendar view, latest e-mails etc.).

Just like with the X1, the panels are kind of a shell on top of Windows Mobile, meaning that the actual functionalities are provided by WinMo applications. It still feels like switching from one OS to another, but a few improvements regarding usability have been achieved in the new 6.5 version of the mobile phone OS. Icons and dropdown lists have become larger and therefore more finger-friendly, the Start menu is now arranged in a honeycomb pattern for easier access. This is definitely a step in the right direction, but all in all just a minor evolution of older Windows Mobile versions. A real makeover is expected to happen with Windows Mobile 7, which is - according to rumours - supposed to be available in 2010.

Much earlier is the availability of the X2 - according to SE in "early Q4 2009". In other words: within the next couple of weeks.

To get your very own impression of all the above mentioned points, check out our detailed hands on video of Windows Mobile 6.5 and some of the new Sony Ericsson panels, running on the new X2:

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In addition, below video shows the exterior of X2 and compares it against its older brother, the XPERIA X1:

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And last but certainly not least, find a whole bunch of live pictures of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2 right after the break!